Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Today, hundreds of Pakistani migrants living and working in Skala, Laconiatook the decision to go on strike after a police attack that was unleashedagainst them earlier.

After returning from their work in collecting oranges, they found thedoors of their homes and shelters closed by the owners and their employersand their belongings on the street.

According to a common announcement of Migrant Workers Union, the MovementWorking Together Against Racism and the Fascist Threat and the PakistaniCommunity of Greece, at least 500 Pakistani immigrants have nowhere tostay.

The police pogrom against Pakistani immigrants began immediately after theintervention of the prosecutor, which led to the arrest of anaccommodation owner in Skala and then his sentence to 58 years in prisonfor the inhuman conditions in which he hosted large numbers of immigrants.

Police initially made around 60 arrests of immigrants going from house tohouse, and then released them after they gave them "notes onadministrative deportation". At the same time, police created a climate ofterror to the house owners/employers, sparking the mass expulsion ofimmigrants from the homes they lived.

The workers, immediately after these facts, gathered in the Square St.Friday where they held an assembly and decided to go on strike to demandtheir rights. Specifically they demand the ending of the Pakistaniimmigrants workers pogrom by ensuring human housing, providing decentwages and they requested the government to legalize the immigrants andgive asylum to refugees, something that Labour Centre of Athens has alsorequested.

The Migrant Workers Union supports the decision of Pakistani immigrants togo on strike protesting against the pogroms that now unleashed againstthem and called the GSEE (General Confederation of Workers) and the LabourCentres to actively support the strike and the fair demands of immigrantworkers.